Falcon Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mesa, Arizona 85215
Saturday, February 20, 2010 14:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that he was practicing his takeoffs and landings on runway 22L and the wind was from 160 at 10 knots. The airplane touched down and bounced, and then the pilot transitioned the airplane to a three-point landing. The pilot reported that the wind lifted up the left wing. He attempted to correct; however, the tailwheel was not yet on the ground. The airplane veered to the left and the right main landing gear collapsed. A witness reported the airplane bounced when it landed, and then it ground-looped, collapsing the right main landing gear.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/20/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Mesa
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85215
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332739N
Event Location Longitude 1114342W
Event Location Airport Falcon Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FFZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1394
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1451 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FFZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26702
NTSB Notification Source FAA Com Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 8 2010 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N76BZ
NTSB Number WPR10CA143
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AT-6C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 847653
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Stephen J. Sinclair
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WINNETKA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60093-1633
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Stephen J. Sinclair
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WINNETKA
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60093-1633
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FFZ
Departure City Mesa
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FFZ
Destination City Mesa
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 8 2010 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22L
Runway Length 5101
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --